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vassals and thought to himself that his father's ways were good ways. Because he was a young man and strong of his hands, he fought gladly in the Crusade and in the wars Richard waged against Philip of France. England lay at peace, and it was cheaper to fight himself, leading his own vassals and men-at-arms, than to pay knights to take his place. When John continued the war so lamely that he lost Normandy, Robert was not among the army. And when the treaty had been signed with Philip, Robert went to France and made his own arrangements. Unlike nine tenths of the English barons who had lost their Norman lands, Leicester's still belonged to him.
Needless to say, Robert of Leicester did not approve of John's desire to invade Normandy in 1204. He had supported the barons' refusal, although he had not been among their spokesmen. Thus King John's wrath did not fall directly upon him, as it had upon William of Pembroke. Still, he could see the handwriting on the wall, and each year the taxes pinched him harder and took a larger number of cattle and sheep from his herds and a larger number of bushels from his grain.
"I make special remark of the richness of our entertainment," Robert said innocently in reply to Ian's half-cautious, half-questioning look, 'because if you had delayed a few weeks in your wedding, I am afraid you would not have had the wherewithal to furnish us food and drink so lavishly."
Ian's eyes flew to Alinor and hers to him. Did Robert know of the grudge King John had against her? And if so, how did he know?
"You must think me a poor housewife to be so ill-prepared for the lean months of winter not to be able to feed my guests," Alinor responded with a laugh.
"Lady Alinor, I meant no such thing, and you know it," Leicester replied, more seriously than Alinor liked. "I have guested here often enough, and I know well your matchless skill at management. However, you can-

 
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